Ukrainian Woman Became Single Mother During War: 'I Don't Regret a Thing'
In a Vogue essay, a 40-year-old woman from Kyiv, formerly a member of the Ukrainian army, shares her journey to becoming a single mother amid the ongoing war. After relocating to a village near Kyiv during her pregnancy, her perspective on motherhood shifted upon returning from the front lines. At 39, she reflected on her fertility and yearned for the experience of being a mother. She views her pregnancy as a means to exit military life, concerned that civilian existence might disrupt her sense of self. Following travels in Africa and a stint in Berlin, she returned to Ukraine to engage actively. Now, her daughter is 10 months old, and she co-parents with the child's father, who remains in the military. Facing practical hurdles such as harsh winter weather and power outages, she stays hopeful and aspires to have more children. This story appeared on vogue.de and Vogue's English site.
Key facts
- The narrator is a 40-year-old woman from Kyiv who became a single mother during the war in Ukraine.
- She previously never wanted children and was certain she wanted to remain child-free.
- She joined the Ukrainian army and served at the front before changing her mind about motherhood.
- At 39, she began fertility assessment and decided to have a child.
- She moved to a village about 30 kilometers outside Kyiv when she became pregnant.
- When the war began, she was traveling in Africa and later lived in Berlin.
- She returned to Ukraine because she felt she wasn't doing enough to help.
- Her daughter's father is still serving in the military; they separated after the birth and co-parent.
Entities
Institutions
- Vogue
Locations
- Kyiv
- Ukraine
- Africa
- Berlin
- Germany